Leidos announced Tuesday that its Enduring Shield ground-based mobile weapon system successfully intercepted drone and cruise missile targets during its latest flight test.
The system reportedly detected and tracked the moving targets before firing AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to complete the intercepts.
It also demonstrated its ability to operate with the Integrated Battle Command System and the Sentinel A3 air and missile defense radar to effectively neutralize the targets.
According to Leidos Vice President Dino Pusinsky, the test underscores the company’s commitment to helping the US Army stay ahead of adversaries.
It also “marks another major step forward in evaluating the overall operational capability and lethality” of the cutting-edge weapon system.
Indirect Fire Protection Capability
In September 2021, Leidos accepted a contract to develop a ground-based weapon system as part of the US Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 program.
The weapon is envisioned as a key component of a layered solution for protecting critical civilian and military infrastructure.
Enduring Shield is designed to bridge the gap between the service’s tactical short-range air defense systems and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
In December 2023, the weapon showcased its ability to fire an experimental AIM-9X missile interceptor for the first time.
Leidos is now conducting hardware upgrades to further mature the system as part of a new contract awarded by the US Army.
“We believe this award will let us showcase the ability of the IFPC Inc. 2 system to transform warfighting capabilities as it progresses toward being declared operationally ready for our warfighters,” company senior vice president Larry Barisciano said.